Railway switch



Aug. 5, 1930.

. l.. wl-:RTMAN ET AL 1,772,332

RAILWAY swITcH Filed May 31, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l fl lE N ll Il woc/wloz @asu / wouw/13a Patented Aug. 5, k1930` i oseAnA 4Ii.'weiterhin'Np-A1111), PARIS W. RATGLFF, or nlnrawomive RAILWAY swI'rcH f `iippimanonlfiled May 31, 1929.seria1iNo. eem/151..

'Them-'enum relates fo ksvi/agiles, andfopnigga ,ist vfiewin ide levanta showing.

erating means therefor and more particular- Y lyl toda railwayswitch' having operating means l adapted to be v actuated by atrain-.car-

riedfelemen'tand `bymeansof which switch points may, be moved-'intovposition to allow a train tomove along the main track past a sidev track'and the Swiftech( pointsreturnedv to a normal positionl to guidey anothertrain onto) the sideftracklaitertheirst trainu has entirely passed over the 'switch points..

One object of the invention isv torso o0n struct the switch operating means vthatit may be easily applied to trackage4 of a kcony' alongthe track.

151 means atone side of the track and extending ventional constructionV with'its koperating from the switch points for' vquite a distance y Anotherob'ect of theinvention yis to vprovide the'a'ctuating means with levers so con-lv structed that when. they are Vengaged by an a abutment armr extending from a portion of.k an engine or car of yaitrain and movedvin' an;

operative" direction theirmovement may be checked and breakage which mayoccur from a violent throw of a lever;prevented.e

Another object ofthe invention is Ito "proV vide the actuating mechanism with shockjab of the trackage,

sorbing means which will`r serve to"""abs`orb strains which occur `during movement ofthe2 operatingmeans andl p`rev`ent breakage. c

Another object. of the invention isV 1to pro-a" videy an improved type of abutment arm adapted to be lmounted upon an engine or car and'moved into `and out of `position for engagement with ,theleverg of track Vmechanism. w i t Another object of vide switch operating means `which ishstrong and durableiand simple inits. construction.

The invention is illustrated in the accom# panying `drawin'gs5 wherein Figure 1 is a top plan view means connected Fig. 2 'is aside shown in Fig. nl,

the "inventionV is" to, pro-V of a section of;` trackage showing the ,improved operating withl movable `switch points g elevation of the' structure the j mannerfinlwhich a' lever is moved kby an abutment arm' oarriedby an engine;V

'Fig' 54S a Peepeeeviewof telai appliance, and i i i e Fig.v 6 is avertical sectional view takenon the line, 6 6 ofzFigvj. 'l

Theftrac'kage shown in F ig.v l

Inerall, aside track-Zand switch point'sLB which are pivotally mounted,l as shown lat'll, for horizontal swinging movementfrom a positioninv which they willfguide aftrain ymoving along'the main trackfontothe sideY 'track to an adjusted position in whichthey.

engineer-e, f mam track, indicated in general bythe nu '1 will cause ythe trainto continuealong the. f

mainltrack` past the.l iside track., In 4order to rformed of steel or other strong metal have a `number of. openings formed through them'k which are adapted to register andthrough these openings are passed securing bolts Tand- 8,the bolt 8 being located between'fthe boltsl T Fasteners, such'l as the bolts Q, vconnect the switchpoints withthe extended end portions ofthe strip 6 and bushings'lare fitted about the-bolts A9 between the extended ends' of the; Strips and under l:faces of the Switch pQltSx so that the strips vmay-'be rmlyfsecnred to the switch` pointsbuty y at, the Sametime retained inf'zslightly spaced relation* tothem.V 4ftwill thus be seen that the tie bar may be adjusted"` that theswitch pointswill be retained in proper spaced relation to each other and be causedto move together.

A vdraw bar lljexten'ds lo heath thetie rod orbar 5'and this draw bar has its inner endportion formed intoa stein 12 which is threaded and carriesnutsl);V The stem passes through Van opening formed in a dependingarmofafbraoket 14 which' is rmly secured tothetie bar 5 by the bolt 87M andbetween the'bracket 14 and the nuts '13` to accommodate itself tothe widthof'a track v and be'lirmly secured'to switch points `so` as shown at 16, to ,form a hand-leand-to-lthis handle is secured a cleat" 17 Abetween which and the handle 16 is connected the arm 1180i 2.1 bell crank lever 19. This bell crank lever is pivotallymounted upon a post 20f'rising from a base plate 21 spiked l.or otherwise firmlyrsel curedfuponl end portions offtiesatonesidle of the track. willbe'v readilyy understoodtllat by swingingffthe h ell' `crank 'lever-on itsrpost `movement. may be imparted tothe drawbar and .the sWt11.-p9,i 11tshftel 10111 @11e-1210* sition to another.

Clevises22 and 23 are 'pivotallyl connected" with the. outer end of 'the'y bell crank leverby apin orbollt and lthese clevises are prefer# ablyV formed' with anumber of openings so that theyima'y'be adjusted longitudinally of each y,other blefore'th'e ypin .is passedv through them` and through Ithe lever. Rods '25 and 2 6 havel threaded .ends .passed through vopenings.` in .the tclevisesh where they'aresecuredlby nuts,

2.7 `and 28`so`that may be adjusted and thsereds:extend.lnsteflinalybf ,11,111 11110.11# HThe xrod25 carries atfits other end Ia similar clevis 29which is secured thereon by securing nutsBO similar to the nntsand .28,.and'thisclevis129 isV pivotally connected with the lower of alever31 which ispivotally'rnounted upona shaft 32 carried by brackets 33 eX-g tendingupwardly from a base plate 34 spiked or otherwise rividlyfsecured upon the endv portions olfrties'at one side of the track. It will be readilyffseen moving the lever, longitudinal :novement Hmay vhe imparted to.:

the rod 2,5 'andfsincethis rodis. connected .with

thehell'crank lelvler the switch points `will be' adjusted. 'Ah arm iscarried by ythe lever Bland extends upwardly therefrom lso that,v

when a train isapproaching the switch, an abutment carried bythe trainvlnay if set anvoperative position strike'the'arm 35 .and

cause' the 'lever 'to be swung'forwardly. and

draw upon'the'rod toswing. the switch'A pene @1.1.1. of the m5111011 shown; infFig., 1 ,1.1.1, which: they will guide 11111111111110111211@ Side trackft an. .ad'nsted position in which they will causethe train vto continue alon the main track. the lever'is swung I or'wardly by the tram .abutment striking the 211311,35,

the upper endof thelever '31 will rest uponthe abutment until' the train` has moved orw'ardlya suflicient distance ,toniove the abutmentent of engagement with the arm and lever. The lever'will then continue its down,-y

- ward -'movement in order to fully set theV ..iscarried by brackets 38 secured upon a plate in depending relation thereto at opposite sidesfof anope'ning 39 formed in the plate.

This 1111.118...312.iaptlaeserotherwise ,firmly Secure; fthe@ "Q1zti011I Qftiesatenesidep the .1 K k y d a Y the inner face off the bl (,*QSS ftirme'd therein'issecured lever' 4.0.11'h10hr10'j acts. ilpwerdly 19,111 the.

a bloc Thisleveris.firmlyfheldinits proper Secured, 11111112012@ fmlad @Weinland ieee.

1.1? 2.11.1 elwbh .Qsirjrspondetefhe 111111 '35 Q-f @61161718.1221 ,The blOCk 3.6 .constitutes ,a

balance weight so thauwhen the ,lever/31 swung forwardly, the weight will cause move- ;Q'f tessera.,parlare be comme@ 1f-'11.611 )the trein. abutment inoves out ofen,-

. Vthe lever 31 'and insure proper settillwflojthe switch points. Froman in -y spetloii ,olf l'ig. 2, willbe readily seen that, when the lever 31 is'thrown forwaripull is @116.116.111thrmlehtherew .to saine-the lever 4Q@irreale/11111,therfeee.111e'haar,40 Will assume' at position correspending` to .the positionno'gt `the;'lever f3.1 when'the lever is swung forwardlyto/,the posititm'indicatedl by dotted lines:` Therefore, after a train .has passed. switch points/thel yabutment carried bythe'ta'inxnaystrikethe arm 41 of th@- 1e1 40 by'f exerting l'11.11.11 1111011 the md; 2.611111111111118, bell .Crank maar@ 11's post to.. returnthe switch pointsv to ,thev position Sammie Of we; .if a 1.121.111 1511 enter. the. side ,track instead of ,conti'nning @1911 the @finlande 111111b11t11111l11t011-1rid By thetrain, wiM .rbc left an inoperative posithat thetnain may .passfthe lever ..Quejaseangtie Swich/@peering mechanism, x l

` While'a'ny suitable means may 11119.11 afzvtlpaar1f91r-e11gagina the armsfflthe tire layers heeft? .f O 11s.@ .abllmellli' weswegen? Shown in Eiss- 4 11111115? Ung t0.

11 e111 be m1111111 .theautment consists of'an ,arm 4 2 formed of .steel orrotlrepstrong metal thisarniV is firmly fiale@- 11119111 aehalftf-i i'eurnled .11,1 Openings- 11911111.11@ 1111112.91115111111. '.11 .ermSeeef-apar't bearing brackets w ici brackets-,are rivet;- edf911eth1111i$e .firmly earned; 1111011 1 plt fi'having openings 47 formed;thereinfsdthat 1t111er,beaeeulzeein;evertialroeton@1111151 one side of an engine.' .abiltlilentgwillgbe ivasse Y so located upon the engine that when the shaft 43 is rotated to swing the arm upwardly and outwardly it will project in a horizontal plane at such a distance above the track that as the train moves alongthe track it may havecontacting engagement with'the armsof the two levers, as shown in Fig. 4, in order to swing the levers forwardly and be engaged by the upperends of these levers in Order to check forward movement thereof until it moves forwardly out of positionfto be en-` gaged by the levers.` A strip 48 extends between the arms of the bearing brackets in order to limit upward movement of the arm, as shown in Fig. 6, and in order torotate the shaft 43 for adjustment ofthe abutment arm,

there have been provided actuating rods 49 which extend from the same towards the front and rear yendsof the engine andv have" their freeends bent to form handles 50, oneof Vwhich will be disposed where it may be easily reached by the engineer or fireman while seated in the cab of theengine and the other of which will be accessible to a member of the engine crew who may be riding near the front of the engine; A `similar abutment may be f mounted upon the rear car of a train, such as f the switch has been set.

the caboose of a freight train, so that trainj men riding in the rear car may move it to an operative position and allow the switch to be v returned to its normalposition from an abutment at the rear end of a train instead of upon the engine after the rear car has passed over the switch. By this arrangement there will be no danger of a switch being returned to the position shown in Fig.V l before all of the cars of a train had passed the switch atthe entrance to a side track. We have,

therefore, provided switch controlmeans whereby a switch at the entrance to a side track may be adjusted inorder to control movement of a train without it being necessary for the train to stop and a trainman leave the train and then again board the train after claim: g i

l. In a railway switch structure, trackage including a movable switch point, a draw bar Having thus `described the invent-iomwe connectedwith said switch point and projectl ing from one side of the trackage, and actuat-v ing means for said draw bar including levers spaced from each other longitudinally of the track with one lever in advance of and the other beyond the switch, each lever being pive otally mounted for swinging vertically from a lowered to a raised position and having a side arm rigid'with the lever and extending diagonally. from one side of the lever in diverging relation to the free upper end of the` lever whereby the lever may be moved by a train element striking the arm and movement of the lever checked by the lever striking the train element.

2. In a railway switch structure, trackage including ainovable switchvpoint, a draw connected with said switch point and projecting from one side of the trackage, an element pivotally mounted for movement inffahori` zontal plane and having anarmmpivotally P connected' to` said draw bar to' move the'draw` [ban longitudinally whenfthe element moved and' a, second arm.` extending transversely of thefirst arm, vrods pivotally connected -to` rthe second arm and extending transversely: therefrom longitudinally of the track at foneside thereof inxopposite directionsyflevers pivotally mounted vfor verticall movement having said rods connected therel to and one lever moving upwardly when the other kis moved down`wardly,` and a side arm rigidly securczdV to eachlever and extending diagonally tothe upper end ofthe lever.

3. In a railway switch structure, trackage includiniginovable switch points, a crossbar therefrom in diverging relation connecting said switch points, adraw bar j connected with said cross -bar and projecting ,rom onevside ofthe. trackage, ai bell crank lever having' one arm pivoted tol'said ldraw bar, rods pivotally connected fat their inner endswith the other arm of ysaid lever andv extending inopp'ositel` directionsv therefrom longitudinally ofthe track, operating levers. 'f

pivotally `mounted for vertically swinging movement and having the outer` ends of said vrods pivotally yconnected therewith with one rod yconnected, below the pivotaly mounting of its companion lever and the other connected withitscompanion lever above the pivotal mounting `thereof whereby one lever moves upwardly whiley the other swings downward-h ly, vand ank arm rigidlysecured tol each lever and extending diagonally therefrom in di? verging relation to the freeend of the lever.`

4. Ina railway switch structure, trackage including movable switch points, a cross bar connecting said switch points, a .drawbar connected with said cross bar and, projecting from' one side ofthe trackage, a bellcrank Vlever* having one arm pivoted to saidV drawl levers.

5. In a railway switch structure, trackage including movable switch points, a cross bar connecting said points, a draw bar connected to said cross bar and extending beneath the same with one end projecting from one side of the track, a base plate secured upon ties of the track, a bell crank lever pivotally mounted upon said plate with one arm eonnected tothe outer end of said draw bar, rods pivotedto 'the other arm of. said bellcrank lever and' extending in opposite direction 5 therefrom longitudinally of thetrack, base plates secured upon ties of the track adjacent the ends of saidvro'ds, bearing brackets carried by the last-mentioned base plates, shafts `carried by said bearing brackets, a lem ver carried by oneshaft and extending above and below the saine with its lower end pivoted to one rod, a weight carried by the other shaft, a lever firmly secured against a side of said weight and extending upwardly 15 therefrom, the other rod being pivoted to the upper` portion of said weight, and arms extending transversely from the operating levers in diverging relation to the free ends thereof.

20 6, In a railway switch structure, traekage including movable switch points, a cross bar connectingsaid switch points and consisting of strips adjustably secured in overlapped relation to each other with end portions pronjecting. and secured to the switch points, a

bracket secured to said cross bar and depending therefrom intermediate its length, a draw bar extending beneath said cross bar with one end projecting from the track at one side thereof and its inner end portion slidably passed through the bracket, abutment nuts uponr said draw bar in spaced relation `to opposite sides of the bracket, springs between said bracket and nuts, a bell crank lever piv-l 3;; otally mounted at one side of the track and having ,an arm pivoted to the outer end of said draw bar, rods connected to the other arm of the bell crank lever and extending therefrom longitudinally of the track in opposite directions, and operating means connectedvwith said rods. i

In testimony whereof we ailix our'signatures.` 4 D i v i OSCAR L. VVERTMAN. [n s] l' PARIS RATCLIFF. V[1... s] 

